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'A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness, but still will keep a bower quiet for us, and a sleep full of sweet dreams, and health and quiet breathing' Keats

Q & A

About Me

I am lucky enough to work from home indulging my passion for vintage & antique textiles, haberdashery & other paraphernalia that I just can't live without. I am partial to chippy paintwork, faded photographs & reading cards & letters that have long ago lost their owners. I realise that I will never make my fortune doing what I love, but the pleasure I get from hand~making something completely unique is reward enough. Working with treasures in the form of textiles, buttons, beads & trims is a privilege and I strive every day to learn more about their past.

Copyright

Tuesday, 13 January 2009

I really am a bit new to the blogging world ~ today I received such a lovely award from Shabby Chick (Mel). I am loving reading your blog 'Country in the Town' which is already one of my favourites and slowly making acquaintance with some of your favourites too. I just need to figure out how to get the picture onto my blog and choose some others to receive the award in turn. I am so green that my list at the moment is a little on the short side so I think I need to get reading and posting before I can get the photo onto my site!

My 'Marie Antoinette' award is perfect and so apt as I have a bit of thing for her ~ last summer I fulfilled an ambition by visiting Versailles and I read a wonderful biography 'Marie Antoinette The Last Queen of France by Evelyne Lever which I highly recommend. I have in my thoughts a special little collection of hand~made lovelies inspired by Marie Antoinette fashion and have been scribbling the beginning of some new patterns...

Today, coincidentally started with a 'Marie Antoinette Day' even before I received the lovely award as my husband returned from a business trip to Paris last night with a little box of Laduree macarons. This famous patisserie in Paris (and now in London too!) made the macarons for the 2006 movie 'Marie Antoinette'. If you haven't tried these yet, then you must do everything in your power to acquire some ~ and make it quick! They are heavenly. The delight starts with the beautiful packaging, which I can't bear to throw away as it is so pretty, followed by the contents ~ in this case, vanille, citron, chocolat et framboise. Gorgeous girl managed three all by herself (my daughter ~ not me, I'm definitely not so gorgeous after eating too many macarons!) I probably manage to get one of these little boxes just once a year, but worth waiting for....So, just to get you all drooling, I took a photo ~ well why not?

Continuing on the French theme ~ here is another beautiful book that I received as a late Christmas present from my Mum this weekend. The photography is amazing and the focus is on how the French style and put together their collections of vintage stuff for display in their home, which is right up my street and perfect inspiration for taking better photos...

Monday, 12 January 2009

I have a lovely friend Jan, an antique textiles dealer who I have known now for about 10 years or so. She used to have the teeniest little shop but now just works from home and I am so lucky that every now and again she puts together a little parcel of goodies for me to look at to see if I want to buy them. Of course, she is soooo good at knowing what I like that there is never anything I want to send back and always buy everything! This weekend I had such a parcel to open ~ the anticipation of opening all the little bags...Inside, were various lengths of old ribbon, lace, buttons and 'bits' ~ some will be perfect trimmings for the pieces I am planning to make just as soon as I get some time, and others will be offered for sale on my website ~ if I can just bring myself to part with them.

Jan and I chatted for ages on the phone today about our interest in old textiles and agreed that we are so lucky to be involved in something that we are passionate about, and while we will never make our fortune doing what we do, we are priveleged to be able to hold and appreciate such amazing little treasures and wondrous rare finds, even if only for a short time before they are passed on to a new owner. I would never have the budget to buy and keep collections of antique textiles just for my own pleasure kept in a drawer to look at every now and then ~ but what I do is the next best thing. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, and just occasionally something will catch my eye and I just know for sure that I will keep it forever...Mostly; the desire to be able to find more goodies is what encourages me to make and sell just enough to fund my little business and keep me happy!

An early 20th century needle lace butterfly c.1910

A bunch of Victorian tiny fabric flowers

Art Nouveau hand~worked silk appliques

I can't wait to photograph some more to share with you. I now must absolutely stop buying stock and start sewing again!

Thursday, 8 January 2009

My gorgeous girl started pre-school this week and despite longing for some free time to spend on my own, dreaming of satisfying mornings spent at the sewing machine, I had such mixed feelings! I know that she is nearly 3 but it all seems to be happening so quickly and she's not my baby any more...

She absolutely loved it of course and I had no need to worry, but on this first morning a friend (also leaving her little one) and I decided to abandon any thoughts of catching up on ironing and housework in favour of a visit to our local antiques emporium and have a coffee and a browse. Well, I say 'browse' what I really mean of course is hunt for treasures with serious determination! Hopefully to find those elusive trinkets that I can keep for myself or offer for sale on my website. The problem is, I only buy stuff that I love, so parting with anything is impossible!

Here are the little treasures I found and had to bring home with me...

A set three delightful little 1930's books by Katherine Mansfield ~ I was initially drawn to 'The Garden Party' as I used to have a business styling and organising weddings and this was my business name (I also use it for my ebay id too!). I felt I couldn't leave the other two books behind on the shelf...

I am addicted to old books ~ especially those with charming titles like these. I have a growing collection of old Christmas books which are brilliant for display. I find these little old books offer a bit of comfort ~ so reassuring that they have survived the years, just waiting for me to discover them again.

...and a little vintage 'Paris' brooch which will eventually find it's way onto something that I make, but for now will nestle in a box with lots of companions ~

I was lucky enough to get a new digital camera for my birthday so forgive me if I am getting a bit 'click' happy, I am trying to practise and get better at taking photo's ~ I love the setting up bit, but don't have any technical ability at all! I took some pictures of a very shabby painted cupboard we just bought to put 'gorgeous girl's toys in downstairs, I thought I might have to re~paint it but actually I love it just the way it is complete with chippy finish, dents & dings...

Saturday, 3 January 2009

Well here goes - my first post on a new blog which I have been meaning to start for a very long time and have now finally plucked up the courage as part of my New Year resolution list ~ which happens to be as long as my arm again this year...

I have been inspired by so many other vintage obsessed bloggers (I didn't realise there were quite so many afflicted with this wonderful passion) and encouraged by lots of lovely people that I have met over the last few months to put pen to paper (or press a few buttons on a keyboard!). December was truly, madly, busy! There was smoke coming out of my sewing machine until the early hours most days as I tried to get stock ready for craft and gift fairs. I had an especially lovely time at the Holiday Bazaar hosted by the Chiltern American Women's Association ~ my idea of bliss is to share thoughts about collecting and making with vintage textiles, buttons, ribbons, jewels and more ~ such a festive, friendly atmosphere!

Now the Christmas holidays are nearly over and my brain is already working overtime with lots of new ideas and inspirations ~ a good excuse (as if I needed one) to stock up with more vintage goodies. I look forward to sharing my 'loved in a previous life' finds with you all!